The Role of Community and Mosque in Celebrating Ramadan

Mosques in a Muslim Community:

Mosques have a very important role to play in a Muslim community. Allah SWT says in the Noble Quran:

 “And the mosques belong to Allah (alone), so do not invoke anyone along with Allah.” [72:18]

A mosque was the first structure constructed by the Prophet SAW after his entry into the town of Quba and the city of Madina. A mosque is at the centre of life in an Islamic community. Apart from holding daily prayers and religious gatherings such as in Ramadan, mosques cater for public events, weddings and funerals. The mosques also engage in matters of community education and social welfare.

 A mosque is crucial to Muslim lifestyle. It is indispensable to a thriving Muslim community where individuals and families attend the mosque on a regular basis. Mosques are vital to the spiritual connection the believers need to establish with their Lord, their Creator. These are institutions that serve to improve individual well-being and mental health by infusing a sense of belonging and brotherhood in the attendees. Besides, these are places of social welfare providing sufficient opportunity for healthy and positive social interactions. The mosques play a considerable role in eradicating the issue of loneliness, fighting social and cultural isolation on a commendable level. With equality, compassion and charity being the main values upheld by the mosques, these are highly inclusive places which anyone can access for help.

The Role of Mosques in Celebrating Ramadan:

The above vividly highlight the significance of a mosque’s role in a Muslim community during the blessed month of Ramadan. Mosques bring communities together. People of different colour, race and culture unite to celebrate their faith, gathering at the mosque for Iftar, daily prayers and Tarawih each day of Ramadan. Ramadan is a time when communities build and strengthen social connections. It is a time when Muslims greet each other with good wishes for a blessed Ramadan - one of the common greetings being ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ which means ‘have a blessed Ramadan’. Besides a welcoming atmosphere, many instances of kindness and sharing are witnessed inside the mosques and Muslim communities. People cook food at home and bring to mosques for sharing with others at Iftar or even Suhoor. Mosques are full during Ramadan and bustling with life due to so many activities taking place.

Feeding the Fasting:

In Ramadan, many mosques play an amazing role in fighting poverty, in partnership with the communities around them. Daily Iftar meals are allocated to individuals and families who take responsibility for one Iftar meal each for all mosque attendees. New Muslims, those travelling or new to the community and financially struggling families are all welcome. This eases pressure on social services and official welfare programmes as communities take care of each other for the whole month ensuring everyone has a nice meal for Iftar and Suhoor every day of Ramadan. There is a soothing and nurturing environment in mosques around this time. Poor and rich, all eat together - sharing food, smiles and joy.

Tarawih

In literal sense, the word ‘mosque’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘Masjid’ which means a place of prostration. The main purpose of building a mosque is to establish the remembrance of Allah SWT. In the Quran, Allah SWT says:

“(The guided people worship Allah) in the houses that Allah has permitted to be raised, and where His name is recounted and His purity is pronounced in the morning and in the evening.” [24:36]

The mosques hold Tarawih prayers in the holy month of Ramadan. Special arrangements are made months in advance to find Quran reciters and allocate the necessary chapters to them. Tarawih is a beautiful expression of the glory of the Quran. It is an evident display of how the Quran is protected from any change since it was revealed - in the hearts of millions besides printed copies of Quran which do not differ from each other one bit.

Itikaf

Itikaf is another important feature of Ramadan that bring people together. It is another opportunity for communities to participate in the arrangement of accommodation and food for those staying in the mosque. Itikaf normally takes place in the last days which have a greater significance for holding the Night of Power amongst them. It is an established Sunnah, and the believers are encouraged to observe Itikaf in the imitation of the Prophet SAW and the companions. It is a time for remembrance, supplication and spiritual purification.

Charity

Mosques serve as the central point for fundraising during the blessed month of Ramadan. The believers are encouraged to increase in charitable acts in Ramadan. Islam puts great emphasis on feeding the poor and helping those in need. The Imams and public speakers urge the believers to be even more generous in this noble month following the example of the Prophet SAW. The mosques also educate communities on the payment of Fidya, Kaffarah, Zakah and Zakat-al-Fitr in Ramadan.

Mosques in a supportive Muslim community make a great impact on people around them. It is this positive collaboration that can bring about the necessary change in areas of need, with mosque management and attendees both contributing positively. Ramadan is the best example of it when everyone is keen to be at their best. It is a time of great blessings, and the mosques provide the right atmosphere for everyone to reap the fruits of these blessings.